Question

Who discovered the cell?

Answer 1

Hint: He is known for his theory of elasticity. He was the first person to name and observe cells through cork cells.

Complete Answer:
- The cell is the basic building block of life. Robert Hooke first observed cells while studying cork cells under the microscope.
- He saw that the cork resembled the structure of a honeycomb cell made up of a number of small compartments.
- Cork is a substance that comes from the tree bark. Hooke made this observation by means of a self-designed microscope in the year 1965.
- Robert Hooke named these boxes cells. Cell is a Latin word for 'a little room'. The first living cells were described by Anton Van Leeuwenhoek.

Cell components.
- A cell has specific components within it, known as cell organelles that perform specific functions, such as making new material in the cell, removing the waste material from the cell, etc. Because of these organelles, the cell is able to live and perform all its functions.
- Cells may be prokaryotic or eukaryotic. Inside each cell, there is a dense membrane bound structure called the nucleus.
- This nucleus contains chromosomes that, in turn, contain the genetic material, DNA. Cells that have a membrane surrounding the nucleus are called eukaryotic, while cells without a membrane bound nucleus are called prokaryotic.
- The volume of the cell is filled by a semi-fluid matrix known as cytoplasm. This is the main region of cellular activity in both plant and animal cells.

Note: All organisms are made up of cells or cell aggregates. Cells vary in shape, size and activity or function. On the basis of the presence or absence of a nuclear membrane and other organelles, the cells and therefore organisms may be called eukaryotic or prokaryotic.